Well they should investigate why my wife got one then because she didn't fill anything out. She got her polling cards simply because I filled out the electoral register forms 3 times and verbally answered the door knocker as he filled it in twice and both times gave her name and nationality - Portuguese. Lo an behold we both got polling cards for the locals 3 weeks before the election and we both got the EU election ones about a week later.
Nothing to do with polling cards, as I said above. The point is the people turned away at the polling stations today were registered to vote but not allowed to because they hadn’t returned the UC1/EC6. They had a warning mark against their name on the electoral roll the polling officers were checking against.
Twitter has spent the last few months lauding the EC, best thing since sliced bread. Even 2 days ago they were being cheered on. A mass of people defending the EC from any criticism. Today the same twitter is aflush with calls for the same EC to be investigated.
I had to make the decision to vote in the UK rather than the Netherlands before the UK participation was confirmed otherwise lose my franchise. My postal ballot sheet arrived in good time to be returned and counted. All good for me but for others in Europe and the UK the two week turnaround window wasn't enough, it would appear to be for a number of reasons. Our Serbian Saint wasn't able to get it done. There has to be an inquiry on how/why this happened for overseas voters in a number of counties.
Nice knee-jerk reaction Imps. It’s not the EC who are to blame, it’s local authorities who haven’t sent the forms out in time because they claim the decision to participate in the EUP elections was taken too close to Election Day.
I'm not the one "knee-jerking" The twitterati remainers are the ones that are turning on their former darlings the Electoral commission. Plenty of right wing commentators ridiculing suggestions of that "too close to election day" statement (which came from the Electoral commission I believe) seeing as David Liddington announced on 1st April that they would be happening. It is the right wing commentators detailing that 7 weeks apparently too close yet they managed to sort out the GE with much less time. If it isn't the EC fault (and I am happy to accept it is probably local authorities) then why are the EC (if indeed it was them) releasing the statement about the timeframe being too close?
Well done for finding something to crow about, even though I’m not sure what it is. If the EC are to blame, then they should be investigated, but the common factor is local councils.
Totally agree with Chilcs jerking of the highest order all but hysterical. I can't find any reference to an April 1st announcement only confirmation May 7th link please
Will this do? From the weekly magazine for "local government officers." "The government has approved plans for European elections as a contingency measure, and has confirmed that returning officers will be reimbursed for any costs incurred as a result of preparations. In other words "get the beers for the party, we'll pay you back if it gets cancelled." This segment is quite appropriate: "The news was welcomed by Peter Stanyon, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators. “Our members have been conscientiously putting plans into place should the elections be held on 23 May, and are working with printers and other suppliers to ensure that any costs are kept to a minimum,” he explained." As is this one: An Electoral Commission spokesperson said that the electoral community is experienced in delivering well-run elections, but added that “as with any electoral event, the shorter the lead in time, the more difficult it would be to deliver a well-run poll. https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/go...s-preparations-will-be-funded/7028445.article
Thanks Imps, always good to have verifiable sources,. Why so many didn't get to vote in UK or EU has to be investigated, all involved agencies, EC local gov. whoever this to avoid the same cock up not just apportion blame that's pretty well saddled on the inmates of HoP. Also to highlight good practises and evolve them.
This is rather a loader questioned to be honest since Eden and Chamberlain preceeded any of us using this site, I suspect the oldest on here were but mere toddlers when Eden was around, and wouldn´t have been alive during Chamberlain´s tenure. Furthermore when we think of Chamberlain we think of appeasement, when we think of Eden it is Suez, when we think of May it is Brexit, and the discourse connecting all three is that of failure to deliver on whatever terms the critics wanted. As for Cameron it is apparent arrogance and ineptitude, so he gets my vote. As for the best Tory PM, maybe Sir Robert Peel or Disraeli. But the best PM of all time in my living memory has to be Harold Wilson.
Lord Frederick North, you may well have lost America, but you haven't done half as much damage as the last two incumbents!
Here in Spain, the big day is on Sunday when we have the EU elections, the regional elections and the local elections. Here in Esporles only two parties will get substantial votes - MES which is a leftish, greenish Catalanist leaning party, and PSOE, mainstream socialists. Getting home after walking the dogs I find on my doorstep a leaflet from MES and a very useful Citronella plant (it combats mosquitoes). Thank you MES, you know the important things in life!!
Thatcher recently (first week of May so 3 weeks ago) topped the YouGov's "Greatest post war Prime Minister" poll ahead of Winston Churchill.
